Travel Weekly (UK) articles from November 2005

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from November 2005

Credit where credit's due.
November 11, 2005... In this day and age when operators have their own websites and are in competition with agents, it is so good to know there are still some operators who look after their agents. I cannot offer enough praise to Katie Griffin from The Gambia...

Let's push add-on sales.
November 11, 2005... I have come to the conclusion that many tour operators have given up on selling holiday extras. "By the time we have closed the sale on the basic package, most clients don't want us selling them something else on top" was one response....

Three months ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and am enjoying life so much I am dreading going back to work in two months' time. Do I have to go back, and if I don't will I have to pay back some money? ; MW, Chipping Norton, Oxon.
November 11, 2005... Congratulations! I understand how difficult it is to leave a small baby and return to work, so think long and hard before deciding what to do next. In response toyour question - no you do not have to return to work, and you may have two choices...

Regionalsall aboard the skylark.
November 11, 2005... Ports aren't the only transport facilities to benefit. Many cruiselines are offering direct flights from the regions. P&O is reaching out to its regional customers and will operate its first flight from Robin Hood Airport Doncaster...

Snow, sea and Santiago.
November 11, 2005... Cruise watchersare now saying Latin America is the new Alaska - the scenic rugged mountains and endless fjords certainly give the North America hotspot a run for its money. And on top of all that natural beauty, there are exotic, fabulous...

Fuelling debate.
November 11, 2005... fuelTo all tour operators and Bruce Treloar from the Trading Standards Institute. Now the price of fuel has come down, can all tour operators advise agents when they are going to reduce their fuel surcharges? And Bruce Treloar, can you...

Diving in Cozumel.
November 11, 2005... WORLD HOPPERS The Guildbourne Centre, Chapel Road This was the strangest agency I've ever visited. It was so weird, I'm not even sure it was a travel agency. Located just outside a dingy shopping arcade, it was on two levels, with a...

Self-booking 'not holy grail'.
November 11, 2005... Self-booking tools have been over-hyped as the answer to corporate travellers booking online, according to BTI UK managing director Mike Platt. "Too much was promised too quickly and there were too many assumptions," he said. "But now...

I'm a travel agent earning [pounds sterling]9,000 a year; I'm 23 years old, single and living at home. My gran died recently and left me a substantial amount of money. I've tried to do some research into investments, but everything is so confusing. What's the most sensible thing to do, without paying the earth for help? ; MC, St Albans, Herts.
November 11, 2005... Consult a properly qualified financial advisor,regulated by the Financial Services Authority, who will give you quality, tax efficient advice appropriate to your individual circumstances and aspirations. Generally speaking, however, the first...

Crisis? ; What crisis?
November 11, 2005... ABTA's decision to run a workshop called 'Crisis Management: doing it better, doing it together' at this year's Convention is a poignant one, when one reflects on a year of seemingly endless crises for the industry. Putting aside the...

Excellent ways to ExCeL.
November 11, 2005... With more than 5,000 exhibitors from 190 countries, World Travel Market is a great place to make contacts. But how do you stand out in a crowd of 45,000 visitors? Simple - just follow Travel Weekly's top 10 tips to making the most of the show....

Meet you down at the wreck.
November 11, 2005... HAVING been fortunate enough to dive all over the world - from Australia's Great Barrier Reef to the sparkling Caribbean - I was intrigued to be invited on a diving trip to Cyprus. An island known more for love and Aphrodite than bright coral...

A water sports holiday for two.
November 11, 2005... To promote Cyprus as a haven for water sports, Argo Holidays has teamed up with Surf Cyprus and the Columbia Beach Resort in Pissouri Bay to offer agents a chance to win a holiday for two. The prize includes seven nights' sea-view...

Calling for a bit of Greek chic.
November 11, 2005... MANY operators to Cyprus have noticed an increase in demand for luxury accommodation on the island. Cosmos saw sales for its premium brand, Elite, soar 38% year on year for this summer, reflecting a rise in demand for upmarket holidays. ...

Sri Lanka insert correction.
November 11, 2005... We refer to the four-page insert in last week's Travel Weekly which highlighted Sri Lanka. The telephone number was incorrect for which we apologise. It should be 020-7930 2627 ext 202. Agents interested in free copies of the Sri Lanka...

Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
November 11, 2005... We recently booked a group of 25 adults travelling to Majorca with Flyglobespan.com totalling [pounds sterling]5,800. It took nearly five days to book as we had to liaise between a single-handed group department and our clients. What...

I'm not blown away by Tradewinds.
November 11, 2005... I am writing to warn other agents about the complete lack of co-operation from the customer services department at Tradewinds Holidays. Our clients went on honeymoon on August 18 and on arrival in Las Vegas were refused the car hire booked...

Log on, check in, sail away.
November 11, 2005... Check-in at the pier will now take just seconds for passengers setting sail with Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, following the fleet-wide roll-out of a new online check-in system. Called Xpress Pass for Celebrity and...

Silversea puts rebating under the knife.
November 11, 2005... Silversea has taken steps to prevent US travel agents rebating commission to cruise customers and is considering the same action in the UK. Commission rebating has become common practice among agents as a way of offering cruises at a lower...

Grand designs for cruise life.
November 11, 2005... The shipbuilding boom of the last decade may be slowing down, with only a handful of launches in 2005, but innovations continue to steam ahead. No longer the preserve of a select few, cruiselines are increasingly looking to the younger end...

of the best winter cruises.
November 11, 2005... Whether your client is Christmas shopping or trying to escape it, looking for a New Year experience or just searching for some sun, a winter cruise could be the perfect solution. Travel Weekly rounds up the five best ways to sell winter on...

Malta moves up.
November 11, 2005... THE Malta Tourist Office is appealing to operators and agents to sell the island as a short-break destination, citing quick flying times and cultural heritage perfect for holidaymakers with only a few nights to spare. With new five-star...

A story worth repeating.
November 11, 2005... Martin Zahra is chief executive officer of Belleair Holidays, which has been selling holidays to Malta for 30 years. Here, he updates Travel Weekly on how the destination is faring. How are sales doing at the moment? Summer 2005 shaped...

Cruising closer to home.
November 11, 2005... Latest figures show three in every 10 UK cruise passengers are now opting to sail from home ports. And the rebirth of cruising from the UK hasn't just been a phenomenon with the local market. While there was a 13% increase in the number of...

All-in the lap of luxury.
November 11, 2005... Champagne on demand? A private tour of a museum? A helicopter to meet you at the pier? Believe it or not, top-end cruise ships can now offer all this and more. And as the popularity of cruising increases, they continue to up the ante. ...

Operator heads upstream.
November 11, 2005... Cosmos Tourama is tapping into what it believes is an underexplored market with the launch of a dedicated river-cruise brochure. The Cruise Collection 2006/07 features 15 river cruises in Europe, North Africa and China, with flights offered...

Get clued up for cruising.
November 11, 2005... 1. What are the benefits of Celebrity Cruises' Xpress Pass and Royal Caribbean International's SetSail systems for cruise passengers? a. They allow the relatives of passengers to use a GPS-style system to track their loved ones during...

SPAA goes on charm offensive.
November 11, 2005... THE Scottish Passengers Agents' Association is seeking to become a recognisable high-street brand under its new president. Sandy MacPherson inherited the title from predecessorJanice Hogarth at the SPAA Annual Travel Awards last night and...

There she blows.
November 11, 2005... THE bridge of Royal Caribbean International's Adventure of the Seas ship could be the set of a James Bond film. Against the backdrop of the Caribbean Sea, lights constantly flash out from the walls of computers, radar screens, switches and...

Sun, sea and decks.
November 11, 2005... WHEN pirate ships ruled the Caribbean, buccaneers had to "go on the account" which meant pledging to abide by the rules of the ship. These days it's cruise ships that rule the Caribbean, and while going on the account is a thing of the past,...

Go slow in Gozo.
November 11, 2005... TO holiday in Malta and not spend a day in Gozo is to miss out on one of the delights of the Mediterranean. And for the 400,000 day trippers who step ashore in Gozo each year, the brief visit invariably inspires a longer return stay. With...

Getting the full treatment.
November 11, 2005... THE island of Aphrodite is working on making a name for itself as a leading spa destination. Top hotels in Cyprus now have luxurious spas that promise to pamper and spoil and send guests home rested, relaxed and ready to cope with the stresses...

More flights, more demand.
November 11, 2005... OLYMPIC Holidays has reported an increase in demand for short-breaks and winter holidays to Cyprus as more scheduled flights come on line. The Cyprus specialist said extra flights have made the destination popular with clients wanting to...

Weddings ring the cash tills.
November 11, 2005... THE number of Brits tying the knot in Cyprus has risen dramatically, with more than 4,500 getting married in 2004, compared with 3,500 in 2003. Argo Holidays attributes the sharp increase to a change in the law that now allows hotels to...

Costa plans for a hefty 2006.
November 11, 2005... Costa Cruises will launch the largest ship in Italian maritime history next year in time for its 2006 programme. Costa Concordia will weigh in at 112,000 tons and take 3,800 passengers. Itsnine-night maiden voyage will start at...

Cadogan boosts hotels.
November 11, 2005... CADOGAN Holidays has added two new hotels to its 2006 Malta programme. The operator has four brochures featuring Malta and Gozo: Solo Malta and Gozo; Collection 2006/07; Accommodation-only 2006/07; and Winter Sun 2005/06. There are 18...

Staff really are Going Places.
November 11, 2005... There's already a battle on among homeworking companies to recruit staff from the 110 Going Places shops that are to close by the end of this month. But you've got to hand it to Travel Counsellors - as soon as word of the shop closures...

Good times at Butlins; Shoreline Hotel surpasses [pounds sterling]1m sales target two months early.
November 11, 2005... BUTLINS is considering building more on-site hotels following an excellent customer response to its first property at Bognor Regis. Sales for Butlins' Shoreline Hotel have reached [pounds sterling]1 million two months earlier than...

All change for Louis Hotels.
November 11, 2005... LOUISHotels is to refurbish half of its Cyprus properties this winter to meet the changing demands of the market. Six of the group's 12 hotels will be updated simultaneously with an emphasis on product identity. A completion date of next...

InterContinental opens all areas.
November 11, 2005... Training Award by the Government, through its UK Skills body within the Department for Education and Skills. A programme called Confidence to Serve All was set up by InterContinental in a response to the new Disability Discrimination Act....

Operator adds 10 for 2006.
November 11, 2005... SUPERBREAK has added 10 new Cyprus properties to its self-catering and beach hotel accommodation inits 2006 Europe and Beyond brochure, out this month. The additions include a range of three to five-star apartments, bungalows and hotels...

Returning Odyssey.
November 11, 2005... ODYSSEY Worldwide has reintroduced Sri Lanka for 2006 after dropping the country following the tsunami. The operator is now using SriLankan Airlines' services. Commercial director Photis Lambrianides said: "This has added flexibility to...

Quality, not quantity.
November 11, 2005... PLANETHolidays has dropped seven properties from its new Cyprus brochure saying they "did not fit the bill". The Greece and Cyprus specialist - which will offer a total of 55 properties in Cyprus for 2006 - aims to brochure only the best...

Complete Cruise Solution adds Cunard to E-cho site.
November 11, 2005... COMPLETE Cruise Solution has added Cunard to its online agent reservation system, completing work to automate bookings for all for of its brands. The cruiseline joins P&OCruises, Princess Cruises and Ocean Village on the Agent E-cho site...

Exotic 'tasters' new for Thomson menu.
November 11, 2005... CLIENT demand for Croatia and a more unusual holiday have led Thomson to add Dubrovnik and Oman to its 2006 Cities and Short Breaks programme. The historic Croatian city will be featured with two hotels, the three-star Hotel Komodor and...

Cosmos Tourama taps into river cruising.
November 11, 2005... COSMOS Tourama is launching its first programme dedicated to river cruises. The River Cruises 2006/07 features 15 trips that can be undertaken in their own right, or built into a longer break. Not only are European trips through...

Port is Miami's vice.
November 11, 2005... EASYCRUISE and the port of Miami have been singled out for harsh criticism in the new edition of the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising. Miami scored nine points out of a possible 40 for friendliness - the lowest score of all 24 UScruise...

'Blown away by Wilma'.
November 11, 2005... Stiles, 19, was caught in the hurricane in Cancun, Mexico. She complained that, despite numerous calls, Airtours staff were unable to give any advice or information. The operator defended its handling of the crisis, saying the fallout...

GWTravel on track for Trans-Siberian riches.
November 11, 2005... BRITISH operator GW Travel has signed a $23 million deal to boost its luxury rail stock. The rail specialist has contracted a Russian company to build, maintain and crew 12 luxury carriages it plans to operate on the Trans-Siberian and...

BAA jobs axe willbe 'empowering'.
November 11, 2005... and lessens our efficiency. We want to make people on the frontline more empowered to make decisions,"he said. Even so, the airport operator increased operating profits by 9.6% in the six months to September 2005. Meanwhile, it is...

Gage urges agents to 'get out of comfort zone' to add sales.
November 11, 2005... Agents should be prepared to approach business travellers about their leisure needs or leisure travellers about business travel, according to Advantage director of business travel Norman Gage. He told members not to worry about going...

FTO boss pushes for clear warnings.
November 11, 2005... Federation of Tour Operators director-general Andy Cooper wants airlines to display prominent messages warning passengers they will not be covered if the carrier fails, and to offer specific insurance. "We want an effective disclaimer...

Aviation minister Karen Buck is urging carriers to agree a series of measures to keep; passengers informed of their rights when booking direct. Caroline James reports; Airlines under pressure.
November 11, 2005... UKairlines are under Government pressure to agree a series of measures to protect passengers in the event of a carrier's failure. Aviation minister Karen Buck is seeking an industry-wide agreement to inform people who book online they are...

Up to 350 consortium members met at the 'bite-size' conferences in Glasgow, ; Manchester and London last week. Edward Robertson reports from London; The regional Advantage.
November 11, 2005... ADVANTAGE plans to offer members deals on regional airport departures as part of a new-year sales push. Marketing manager Beverley Barden said the consortium would work with regional airports to arrange more special rates. She said: "I...

Hays Travel doubles up for 2006.
November 11, 2005... HAYS Travel's homeworking division has resurrected an advertising slogan it used two years ago in a bid to double the number of staff by next year. The advertisements 'Home But Not Alone' have been brought back to entice new recruits,...

Hoping for rich pickings.
November 11, 2005... THE Independence Group of agents hopes to pick up any dissatisfied members of rival Triton Travel Group, as it expects to hit a combined turnover of [pounds sterling]300 million next year. John Hays, managing director of leading...

As funny as giving berth.
November 11, 2005... AGENTS beware! A self-styled stand-up comedian could be coming soon to a cruise ship near you. Worse yet, he's bringing a bunch of wannabe comics who he intends to train into masters of laughter. The man in question is David Granirer...

Globespan grievances.
November 11, 2005... We too have been stung by Globespan ('Don't bite the hand that feeds you', Travel Weekly November 4). We recently booked a group of 92 to Prague, the second time we have sent the same group with Globespan. The first time we did receive a...

And Moore to the point...
November 11, 2005... I'm now convinced former Cruise Control boss Paul Moore must come from another planet (Travel Weekly November 4). He is 38 and, to correct him, he has not built a company worth [pounds sterling]100 million, because it's not there any more....

No plaudit for audits.
November 11, 2005... I was intrigued by your front page on ABTA considering dropping the requirement for all members to have accounts audited (Travel Weekly October 28). By law, all companies with turnover in excess of [pounds sterling]5.6 million must have an...

BA meal left me feeling empty.
November 11, 2005... I came back from Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, on a British Airways flight last week, following a 48-hour delay. The in-flight catering to cover dinner and breakfast, provided in a paper bag, consisted of: a cheese and ham roll (no...

Let's be clearer on pricing.
November 11, 2005... We agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments in the letter, 'Operators display, customers pay' (Travel Weekly October 21). We price our holidays to include compulsory fees. Our prices are clearly displayed on our e-mailed offers and website,...

An apology from NCL.
November 11, 2005... In response to Andrew Earle's letter, 'Get with the programme' (Travel Weekly October 28), I can only apologise on behalf on Norwegian Cruise Line for the unreasonable delay in confirmingpost-cruise hotel accommodation . We aim for much...

Libra kept us in the loop.
November 11, 2005... I attended the Libra fam trip featured in The Insider (Travel Weekly 21 October), and wanted to commend Libra on its handling of what could have been a disastrous trip. Libra kept us informed of the problems - the delayed flights and...

Not as direct as we thought.
November 11, 2005... With reference to your article 'Say Aloha to Hawaii' (Travel Weekly November 4), I would like to point out an error in the flight information that was printed. Korean Air does indeed provide four weekly services and great fares from...

'Add-ons should be incentivised'.
November 11, 2005... INCENTIVES for staff to sell add-ons would help Midconsort members make additional revenue, Holiday Extras sales director Neil Herbert told the conference. He said the consortium's agents should be making annual revenues through his...

The special treatment.
November 11, 2005... Midconsort is backing a specialist agent scheme due to be unveiled by the Portuguese Tourist Board next year. The tourist board's chief executive Jose Antonio Preto da Silva told Midconsort agents, meeting in Portugal, he wants a network of...

Cruise demand helps up prices.
November 11, 2005... CRUISE prices are likely to go up in the next few years as demand outstrips supply, according to Carnival UKmanaging director David Dingle. Dingle said cruise numbers are expected to grow by between 5% and 8% a year globally over the next...

ETOA has a taste for Indian.
November 11, 2005... EUROPEAN Tour Operators Association executive director Tom Jenkins has predicted the growing Indian inbound market will bring major benefits to the UK. A study by the association into the Indian market, launched at yesterday's annual...

Sunvil calls for fair play.
November 11, 2005... AGENTS who package holidays should be required to offer the same consumer protection as tour operators, the conference was told. Sunvil chief executive Noel Josephides saidthe current situation in the trade leads independent operators to...

'Don't miss the boat,' warns cruising boss.
November 11, 2005... OCEAN Village managing director Peter Shanks told Midconsort members they risk missing out on their share of the growing cruise market. He said cruise sales are growing at 8% a year, ahead of the overall increase in foreign holidays, and...

It's a Hay day for scheme.
November 11, 2005... Independence Group agents may extend the use of mystery shoppers to video staff in a scheme pioneered by Hays Travel. It began using mystery shoppers with hidden cameras to check on staff in its 32 shops 18 months ago, and has been using...

Hays urges agents to embrace technology.
November 11, 2005... AGENTS who don't embrace technology and marketing tools will not survive, according to Hays Travel managing director John Hays. He issued this stark message while unveiling marketing tool Enews4agents to Independence Group members in...

Holiday Experts web drive.
November 11, 2005... HOLIDAY Experts will soon be online following the testing of a pilot website. The Holidayexperts.co.uk site will be rolled out over the next two months and offered to all 100 homeworkers. Those who sign up will be able to post up their...

'Snow me the money'.
November 11, 2005... AGENTS are missing out on big commission opportunities by not tapping in to the high-value ski market. Speaking at the Advantage bite-size conference in London, Inghams national sales manager Peter Rolliston said of Britain's annual 1.1...

To join, or notto join.
November 11, 2005... earlier of talks between the leaders of Advantage, Worldchoice and Global on joining forces to form Triton. He said he was pleased at the new spirit of co-operation, but said questions remained as to whether Triton would succeed. ...

'Don't think you can make fuels of us,' say agents.
November 11, 2005... AGENTS have said operators must start paying commission on fuel surcharges and other supplements. Advantage head of commercial Julia Lo Bue-Said said: "Fuel supplements are increasing, the cost of flying is coming down but we're not being...

Agents face bleak winter.
November 11, 2005... On Holiday Group chief executive Steve Endacott predicted a record number of failures this winter. "It is extremely tough out there," he said. Midconsort Travel Group chief executive Charles Eftichiou said: "Agents are sacrificing profit...

Thomson gets flexible.
November 11, 2005... THOMSON is offering more flexibility with extra short and long durations as part of its Winter Sun 2006/07 programme. Head of brand development Stephen Lane said the durations would satisfy both the early-booking market and customers'...

Riots hit lates market.
November 11, 2005... FRANCE'S late-booking market has slumped following nationwide riots. Operators say business to city-break favourites Paris and Lille have suffered particularly, in the wake of violent demonstrations by the country's poor, mainly muslim,...

The members are revolting...
November 11, 2005... MIDCONSORT's invitation to join Triton Travel Group could be withdrawn to save the consortia superpower from an embarrassing snub. Travel Weekly understands there are concerns Midconsort members could turn down a proposed affiliate...

That petrol emotion.
November 11, 2005... TOURoperators face growing criticism over their refusal to absorb fuel supplements into package holiday prices. The big four are charging supplements of [pounds sterling]20 to [pounds sterling]55 per passenger on top of brochure prices, for...

Sitting on a fortune.
November 11, 2005... THOMAS Cook has increased charges by [pounds sterling]10 each way for customers who want to guarantee seats on medium and long-haul flights. From November 2006, long-haul customers who want extra legroom will have to pay [pounds...

Thomas Cook plans job cuts.
November 11, 2005... THOMAS Cook is to announce redundancies in its on-the-road sales team following a review. It is believed the changes are part of a restructure that will lead to area managers having responsibility for fewer shops over a wider area. ...